Basic Concepts of Feudalism and Capitalism

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Questions and Answers

Which of the following best describes an ideology?

An economic and political system controlled by private owners for profit.

A system of interconnected parts working towards a common goal.

A social structure with rigid class divisions.

A set of ideas aimed at preserving or changing a system. (correct)

What is the central organizing principle of a feudal system?

The control of trade and industry by private owners.

The absence of social mobility.

The distribution and ownership of land. (correct)

The accumulation of capital.

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of feudalism?

A hierarchical structure with the church, monarchy and feudal lords at the top.

A system based on land ownership.

A rigid social structure.

Upward social mobility as a result of increased wealth. (correct)

How is the transition from feudalism to capitalism primarily characterized?

A shift from land ownership to capital accumulation. (A) Signup and view all the answers

In capitalism, who controls trade and industry for personal gain?

Private owners. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a core tenet of capitalism, as presented in the text?

Private ownership of profits derived from collective production. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is identified as a fundamental contradiction within capitalism?

The conflict between private ownership and a collective workforce. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is a key characteristic of socialism?

Collective ownership of the means of production. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What was a theorised outcome of the contradictions within capitalism?

An inevitable workers' rebellion leading to socialism. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an identified characteristic of socialist systems, according to the content?

A centralised state with strong governmental control. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest about societal perceptions of different political systems?

A biased indoctrination that socialises our freedom of thought. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The collapse of the USSR led to what kind of global system?

A unipolar world dominated by capitalism and neoliberalism. (D) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the primary factor preventing a unipolar world with the USA as a sole superpower currently?

The emergence of the BRIC countries. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes a participatory democracy?

A system where all members of a group collectively make major decisions. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between indirect democracy and participatory democracy?

Indirect democracy involves citizens choosing representatives to make decisions, while participatory involves direct participation of everyone. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the content, what is the best course of action for people who feel unrepresented?

Engage in mobilization and protest. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines a revolution, as described in the content?

A process of political change involving the overthrow of an existing regime and formation of a new government by a mass group. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a social movement?

It is a large group of people seeking social change. (B) Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided context, what type of outcome does Marxism predict to result from class conflict?

A shift from capitalism to socialism via revolution, resulting in a classless society. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary driver of economic issues in many developed countries, according to the provided text?

The structure of the system leading to inadequate state provisions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

How do norms and values within a society often get determined?

By powerful elites, historical influences, and sometimes specific groups and religion. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of 'resource mobilization' as a framework for social movements?

Identifying the resources that social movements use to organize and grow. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the four frameworks mentioned in the content for understanding social change?

Individual psychology (B) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies a social construct, according to the text?

The concept of nations and their associated identification documents. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of a social structure, as described in the text?

It is derived from social constructions and acts as common denominators for society. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential consequence of social differentiation?

It can contribute to inequality and social stratification. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested to be a potential factor in the design of social structures?

The influence of the most powerful individuals and groups. (A) Signup and view all the answers

The text implies that social fragmentation includes...

The division of society into parts based on class, race and gender. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What does the text suggest is a main purpose of social representation?

To help disadvantaged groups have an influence in social decisions. (C) Signup and view all the answers

According to the provided text, under which conditions are people more likely to engage in collective action?

When people have no institutional ways of voicing their concerns and state authorities repress their needs. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the role of 'generalized beliefs' in the formation of social movements?

They act as an ideological framework that shapes the social movement, moving beyond simply felt anxieties or hostilities. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'precipitating factors' in social movements?

They are events that trigger direct action by those involved in the social movement. (A) Signup and view all the answers

What role does leadership play in social movements?

Effective leadership, communication, funding and resources are necessary for a social movement to exist. (B) Signup and view all the answers

How might the nature of social control directed against a social movement influence the movement itself?

A harsh response might spark further protest and strengthen the movement. (B) Signup and view all the answers

Based on the text, what might be considered a global block in the 'new world order'?

Capitalism as a political and economic base, and neoliberalism as an ideological one. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a consequence of the 'crisis of the individual' in the modern world?

An individual's value is more and more determined by their position in the market. (C) Signup and view all the answers

What can be inferred about the relationship between social constraints and social movements?

Social constraints are a necessary condition for mobilizations and social movements to occur. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is a key difference between collective behavior and collective action?

Collective behavior is typically spontaneous and less organized, whereas collective action is more organized and focused on common interests. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is a crucial factor distinguishing social movements from collective action?

Social movements have a higher level of organization and a stronger collective identity, as well as longer duration in time. (D) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these best describes 'collective identity' within the context provided?

A common ground that unites a group's work, processes, and actions. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Why does the text highlight the importance of understanding sociological principles when dealing with resistance?

To better understand the underlying social behavior to approach these groups differently and to make them understand different perspectives. (B) Signup and view all the answers

What is one way to describe how people might join a collective?

By deciding to adopt shared interests and act coherently with others. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios most closely exemplifies 'collective behavior' as described in the text?

A sudden global increase in the use of a new social media platform. (D) Signup and view all the answers

The Rodney King riots are used in the text as an example of:

Collective action sparked by a specific event, lacking the sustained organization of social movements. (D) Signup and view all the answers

What is the text emphasizing when it mentions the paradox of individual and collective behavior?

How individuals choose to act and join a collective, juxtaposing individual autonomy with group behavior when taking an action. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a major characteristic of a social movement identified in the text?

Spontaneity. (C) Signup and view all the answers

Why might some people support political figures that seemingly go against their interests?

Because they are simply misinformed or unaware of the potential consequences regarding their rights. (A) Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Basic Concepts

Ideology: A set of interconnected ideas aimed at preserving, maintaining, or transforming a system.
System: A collection of organized parts working together to achieve a goal. Examples include legal, economic, and educational systems.

Feudalism

A system based on land ownership.
People were given land (a "feudom") in exchange for work and military service to a higher-ranking lord.
A rigid social hierarchy existed, with the church, monarchy, feudal lords, and servants (commoners) as key components.
This system involved a limited social hierarchy and lack of upward mobility.

Capitalism

Economic and political system where trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
Driven by profit maximization, breaking rigid social structures, and allowing some individuals more wealth than others.
Key characteristic is privately owned capital produced collectively.
The contradiction between collective workforce and private ownership of the means of production is a central concept.

Socialism

Economic and political system based on collective or public ownership of the means of production.
Aims for more equal distribution of wealth.
Involves centralized state control of assets and wealth, as opposed to individual owners of these resources.
It is theorized as being the inevitable result of capitalism and worker rebellion, but remains largely theoretical.

Idealization and Political Systems

The criminalization of different ideologies or systems exists with both communism/socialism being considered the worst and capitalism being considered the same.
The Cold War (USA vs USSR) exemplifies a bipolar global system, demonstrating differing ideologies and systems.
The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 created a more unipolar global system dominated by capitalism.

Fragmentation: The division of society into different parts based on factors like class, race, and gender. This division can lead to inequality and social stratification.
Social groups in disadvantage: How disadvantaged groups can participate in societal decision-making processes.
Representation: The representation of groups by individuals reflecting similar characteristics (e.g., educational, ethnic, racial, religious backgrounds).

Principles of Democracy

Government by and of the people.
Participatory democracy: involves all members of a group or community participating in decision-making processes.
Indirect democracy: allows citizens to choose representatives to make decisions on their behalf.

Large groups with similar interests organizing to achieve or block social change.
Framework approaches for understanding social movements including: economic deprivation, resource mobilization, and structural change.
These movements have a collective identity and are organised and more structured than "collective behavior."

Social constraints can stifle movement and sometimes trigger counter-movements.

Mobilization

Collective Action: Individuals joining forces to respond to a shared concern or need, involving well-defined goals and organization.
Collective Behavior: Spontaneous, less organized actions responding to a sudden phenomenon or event. These often lack a clear set of goals or continuous structure.

New World Order

Global Block: Refers to the international system's changing dynamics, the shift from a bipolar Cold War structure to a more unipolar or multi-polar one.
Global capitalism and neoliberalism are key components.
A crisis exists in the individual's identity in the context of the modern economic system emphasizing the role of consumers.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of feudalism and capitalism through this quiz. Assess your understanding of how these systems function and their implications on society and economics. Delve into the interconnected ideas that define these historical frameworks.